A Steamboat Locals’ Guide to Spring Break Desert Escapes
You can feel it in the air—the telltale softness of spring. The kind of air that no longer smells like snow, but like mud. Like thawing earth. Like anticipation. Saturday marks the beginning of Spring Break for Steamboat schools. Sunday, the lifts stop spinning at the resort. And by Monday morning, it’s like someone pulled the emergency brake on the whole town.
Ski gear gets shoved into storage bins, and suddenly, half the license plates in town are zipping east on I-70 towards DIA, jet-setting to a beach somewhere, or west on I-70, bound for the desert dirt and rocks of Fruita and Moab. It’s an annual rite of passage for Steamboat locals—the Mud Season Exodus. For some, it’s palm trees and umbrella drinks. For many others, all that is required is desert dirt, dusty bikes, and a cooler of craft brew next to a crackling fire under starlit skies.
But before you toss your camping bin in the back of the Subie and head for the Colorado Plateau, there are a few things to think about. If it’s been months since you last touched a chainring or unzipped a tent, you’re not alone. With the help from our friends at Ski Haus, we’ve put together a Steamboat Local’s guide to making that spring transition from snow to sandstone as smooth as your first downhill flow trail of the season.
Dig Out the Bike… and Really Look at It
Let’s be honest. Your mountain bike has been sitting in a garage, basement or storage unit since October, collecting dust and longing for action. Maybe you rode your gravel bike on River Road a couple times when things got dry. Maybe you’ve been hammering on a spin bike at Old Town Hot Springs. But singletrack? That part of your brain’s been in hibernation.
The trails are ready—are you?
We caught up with Ben Brodsky, all-around gear guru at Ski Haus, to get the lowdown on what he sees every spring when bikes come out of the shadows.
“One of the biggest issues we see,” Ben says, “is that people never really put their bikes into storage—they just stored them. They pull it out and it’s still got Moab dust all over it from last October.”
Ben recommends giving your bike a solid once-over before hitting the road. Here’s what to look for:
- Check your tires – Especially if you’re running tubeless. “The main thing we see is people need to add tire sealant,” Ben notes. “It’s dried out over the winter, and now their tires are flat.”
- Lube the chain – If it squeals louder than a flock of migrating geese, you’ve waited too long.
- Inspect your brakes – Fruita’s 18-Road trails system is flowy, and Moab’s got plenty of ledge exposure. Either way, you’ll want stopping power.
- Dial in your suspension – Those squishy bits might need some air after a long winter nap.
And if you’re into a little DIY maintenance, Ben’s pro tip is simple but solid: “Everyone should have some way to add air to their tires—whether it’s CO2 or a pump. I still just like a pump. It always works and never runs out.” He also suggests picking up a modern tubeless tire plug kit. “Way faster trail fix than tossing in a tube.”
If you’re not confident in your own tune-up skills—or just want peace of mind—drop it off at Ski Haus for a spring service. Ben says a full tune isn’t always necessary right out of storage: “If your bike was working fine last fall and you stored it right, a basic bolt check and tire inflation might be all you need. But a lot of people like to get a tune now so they’re not stuck without their bike later this summer.”
Remember How to Camp (and Check the Stove Before You Go)
That bin of camping gear you shoved into the crawl space last fall? Go grab it now. Not Friday night. Now.
Unroll the tent, light the stove, double-check your headlamp batteries, and find your marshmallow skewers. (You know one of them walked off mysteriously at the end of last season.) If you’re heading to 18 Road or Sand Flats camping areas, chances are you’ll be joined by dozens of other Steamboat families doing the same thing. So, you’ll need some more s’mores making supplies.
Swing by Ski Haus before you go—they’ve got some deals right now. “We’ve got select sleeping bags and tents on sale,” Ben says. “And there’s this new knife and cutting board set from GSI that just came in—it’s perfect for car camping. Makes it easy to chop up apples and cheese at camp.”
Respect the Desert Elements
That first desert ride feels like freedom. No mud. No fat tires. Just warm wind and wide-open views. But also… no shade, no water, and no mercy.
Hydration is critical. Your winter brain might not be used to carrying extra bottles or bladders, but you’ll regret skipping it halfway through Porcupine Rim Trail in the midday sun. And snacks—pack more than you think you’ll need. That spring sun takes it out of you.
Also: tread lightly. The high desert is fragile, and early spring often brings freeze-thaw cycles that leave crusty trails ripe for rutting. If it looks wet, ride something else. Don’t be that guy.
Ease Into It: You’re Not Midseason Fit Yet
You might still have strong quads and tight hip flexors from skate ski season, but mountain biking hits those muscles a little differently…and even requires different mental gears. Don’t go straight from winter hibernation to Chutes and Ladders unless you’re ready to humble yourself (and your derailleur).
Start with something flowy. Cruise Prime Cut or Kessel Run. Enjoy the ride. It’s not about KOMs this early in the season—it’s about warming back up to what you love. If your legs (and butt) don’t ache too much the next morning, then give the steeper, more technical terrain a go.
And if you want to avoid early-season saddle soreness? Ski Haus has got you covered there, too. “We carry a variety of chamois butters,” he says with a grin. “From classic Chamois Butt’r to… well, one called DZ Nuts. Never a bad idea to use a little lotion.”
Don’t Forget to Put Winter Away Right
One more thing before you head out of town—give your skis the off-season sendoff they deserve. “We always recommend people storage wax their skis,” Ben says. “It’s basically leaving the wax on top instead of scraping and brushing. Come fall, scrape it off and you’re good to go.”
That way, when the leaves start to turn again, you’re not scraping off last spring’s rust.
Reconnect. Reset. Refill the Tank.
For locals, these trips aren’t just about biking or camping. They’re about reconnecting—with your body, your family, your crew, and your sense of wonder. After a season of charging hard through deep powder and packed schedules, the desert gives us space. Space to breathe. To sit in a camp chair with a beverage and some dust on your shins. To swap stories around a fire and fall asleep under an endless sky.
Spring Break in Steamboat is more than a vacation—it’s a reset. A tradition. A signal that another cycle has begun. The snow melts, the town quiets down, and the desert calls.
Answer it well, locals. We’ll see you back on Emerald or Buff Pass when they’re ready.
For more tips about comfortable biking, read these articles about the benefits of professional bike fits :
In the Saddle! Proper Bike Fitting Benefits
Strategies For Lifelong Riding
Thanks to our friends at Ski Haus for contributing their expertise to this article:
